Those interested in being tested for match should call Christ Hospital donor coordinators

Dan Becker, 45, was born with a life-threatening birth defect. The tubes that connect his kidneys to his bladder were not functioning from birth, which has meant a life time of depending on kidney donations.

Man seeks kidney donation through yard signs

Those interested in being tested for match should call Christ Hospital donor coordinators

Dan Becker, 45, was born with a life-threatening birth defect. The tubes that connect his kidneys to his bladder were not functioning from birth, which has meant a life time of depending on kidney donations.

An average donated kidney lasts 10 years. Dan had his first transplant at age nine. Miraculously, that kidney lasted for 26 years.

An average wait time on the donor list with his blood type is six years.

After reaching out to family and friends and finding no match, he was forced to start dialysis.

“I think that’s where I reached kind of my lowest,” Becker said. “It was very disheartening and I had no hope.”

But from his hardest moments came a great inspiration. After seeing a similar idea on Facebook, Becker created 60 yard signs promoting his need for a kidney donation.

Family and friends posted them in neighborhoods throughout the area.

Becker said he started getting three to four phone calls a week from people often interested in being tested as a possible match.

“I’ve had people call and just want to pray with me on the phone,” Becker said. “I’ve always gone to church and stuff, but I’ve really gone through a good relationship with God. I do a lot of praying.”

By early May, there were five possible donors found. Since then, one has been ruled out, but Becker is hopeful he’ll get a kidney from one of the other four donors.

While nothing is set in stone, Becker said he is optimistic.

He said he has 15 more signs ready to be put up. If no matches are named by early July, his next idea is car magnets. But he knows that every time the phone rings, it could be a stranger that may end up saving his life.